Adrian College women's hockey rallies to tie Stevens Point

Sunday

Jan 27, 2013 at 9:33 AMJan 27, 2013 at 9:46 AM

No. 10-ranked Bulldogs win weekend series against Pointers

By Mark JagordDaily Telegram Special Writer

Kelsey Kusch's conference-leading 14th goal of the season rallied the NCAA Division III No. 10-ranked Adrian College women's hockey team to a 1-1 tie in Saturday's Northern Collegiate Hockey Association series finale against Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Arrington Ice Arena.

"It was a loose puck right on the corner (of the crease)," said Kusch."Both of their D (defensemen) and (Danielle) Smith and I went for it and it went into the back of the net. ... She (Smith) went to shoot, so we probably both got our sticks on it to get it in."

Adrian (15-5-1, 10-5-1 NCHA) took a possible four weekend points from Wisconsin-Stevens Point (10-7-3, 8-4-3 NCHA).

"We did a great job killing penalties," said Adrian coach Chad Davis."I think all in all we had opportunities to win the game. We just fell short, but we came out of the weekend with three out of four points in a big conference matchup. We'll just move forward from here, and I think it puts us in a good position for home ice in the playoffs if we take care of the rest of the (regular) season."

Both teams entered the weekend with 18 points. The Bulldogs finished the regular season undefeated at home (5-0-1) with the game doubling to promote breast cancer awareness and honor the seniors.

The Bulldogs donned pink jerseys for the second consecutive night and recognized seniors Brittany Zeches, Kristin Maton and Sarah Connelly in a pre-game ceremony.

The tie kept Adrian atop the NCHA standings with 21 points, although it has played three more conference games than second-place Lake Forest and Wisconsin-River Falls, which each have 20 points.

The game was marked by 18 total minor penalties, accounting for 36 penalty minutes. Adrian's aggressive style of play resulted in 12 penalties and they spent a good portion of the game in the penalty box.

The Bulldogs got the first power play of the game after about three minutes of play and moved the puck around well resulting in four right point shots by Courtney Millar. One narrowly missed finding the back of the net, and the other three generated good rebound scoring opportunities.

With about six minutes left in the first period, Michelle Lunneborg scored on a 5-on-3 power play to put Stevens Point up 1-0. Adrian goaltender Zeches stopped Brooke Hanson's initial shot from the left side, but the puck found its way to the right side of the goal crease, and Lunneborg was able to push it in from in close.

The Bulldogs' best chance of the period came late when Smith rang a shot off the crossbar with just over a minute remaining.

Neither team scored in the second period that was highlighted by four Stevens Point power plays.

Adrian looked more aggressive and opportunistic in the third period. Hannah McGowan nearly tied the game on a shorthanded breakaway about three minutes into the final stanza.

The Bulldogs would get two power-play chances in the third period and make good on one of them. Millar's shot from above the faceoff circle found its way to the net, and both Smith and Kusch battled for the loose puck in the crease before Kusch finally knocked it past Pointers goaltender Janna Beilke-Skoug to tie the game at 1.

The goal would give Kusch 30 points on the season — tied for third in Division III — and tie her for first nationally in power-play goals with six.

Stevens Point outshot Adrian for the game, 32-30. The Bulldogs finished 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Pointers went 1-for-12.